AUTHORITIES in the UK have announced a funding plan which will see 2,000 pharmacists working in general practices by 2020.
Under a new five-year GP contract agreed to by the British Medical Association and NHS England, a "directed enhanced services" contract will incentivise doctors to form Primary Care Networks (PCNs) covering catchments of between 30,000 and 50,000 patients.
Initially each PCN will be funded to the tune of 37,810 to cover 70% of the cost of employing a pharmacist, with expectations that by 2024 each network will have five clinical pharmacists - or the equivalent of one per practice.
Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee CEO Simon Dukes said the deal offers "a unique opportunity for [pharmacists] to embed ourselves further within primary care".
"GPs will be bringing together local healthcare providers into the new networks and we must engage proactively with them and find ways to position ourselves within those PCNs...all pharmacies will need to take steps to work as closely with local GPs as they can."
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 01 Feb 19
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 01 Feb 19
